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About Department of Archaeology
The Department was established in 1997 with an intention to offer post-graduate teaching and research facilities in Archaeology. It was formally inaugurated in 1998 as part of the Diamond Jubilee Year Celebrations of the University of Kerala by the then Hon. Minister for Food Tourism and Law, Govt. of Kerala Shri E. Chandrasekharan Nair with then Vice-Chancellor Dr. N. Babu presiding over the function.
The Department offers M.A, M.Phil and Ph.D programmes.
The Department of Archaeology emphasizes field oriented research study.
Archaeological Excavations and Explorations: The Department has conducted archeological excavations at Vizhinjam, Kottappuram, Kumbla, Kuttikkol, Enadimangalam, Navinal and Juna Khatiya. It is the only Department in South India which is involved in the studies of Indus Civilization. The department is currently excavating biggest Pre-Urban Harappan cemetery in India. Department is also doing systematic excavations and explorations in Kerala. Kerala Megalithic Gazetteer Project is a gigantic research focusing on all the reported and explored Megaliths in Kerala.
Art, Architecture and Iconography: Department is engaged in the monumental work of surveying and documenting Kerala temples and icons present in them.
Ethnography and Experimental Archaeology: Department of Archaeology has been conducting experimental and ethnoarchaeological studies to understand the living traditions in Kerala and Gujarat. It also trying to understand the dying traditional crafts like ceramic production, stone bead production, seal carving, copper working and iron working. It provides training to students in these production techniques with the help of craftsmen and experts from different parts of the world. Department conducted many workshops on these topics.
The works carried out by the department have brought out promising results. These results are published in book forms or as research articles in peer reviewed journals, besides some of their popular versions appear in vernacular magazines. The Department publishes an annual peer reviewed international journal entitled ‘Heritage: Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Archaeology’.
The Department has a fairly good archaeological museum mainly enriched by artifacts collected from Kerala and other parts of India while executing the research projects by the staff.
The Department offers laboratory infrastructure such as GIS facilitated Computer Lab, Archaeozoology Lab, Ichthyoarchaeology Lab, Megalithic Documentation Lab and Harappan Documentation Lab.
PROGRAMMES
M.A. Archaeology
This is the sole University department for Archaeology in Kerala. The Department offers M.A programme in Archaeology. The M.A course is set in the Credit and Semester pattern. It is open to students from both Arts and Science faculties with a minimum of 50% marks in graduation. They are selected by way of a written test conducted by the University. The marks of the qualifying exams and the written test are taken in the ratio of 50:50.
Duration : Two years (4 semesters)
Eligibility/Qualification : B.A., B.Sc.
Seats : 18
The M.A. programme is very comprehensively designed to give students an insight into various facets of archaeology like its history, principles, methodology and other related facets. It also introduces students to cultural vestiges from different periods ranging from prehistoric to medieval times. An attempt to inculcate research aptitude in students is done by way of offering compulsory course in research methodology and a dissertation work. The M.A. course offered has been very accomplishing and successful. Over 36 students have been able to secure UGC NET and 3 JRF during the last six years, the largest numbers from a single Department in the last six years in the University and probably among other departments offering Archaeology.
M.Phil. Archaeology
The Department offers M. Phil. programme in Archaeology.M.Phil is open to students who have a P.G in Archaeology. The selection is carried out on the basis of an entrance examination. The score of the entrance and qualifying exams are taken in the ratio of 50:50.
Duration : One year (2 Semesters)
Seats : 4
Ph.D. in Archaeology
The Department offers Ph.D. programme in Archaeology. The candidate should be qualified Entrance Examination Test of the University of Kerala or should possess M. Phil. in Archaeology or NET/JRF. For details go to research.keralauniversity.ac.in